Highlights: Congress stakes claim to form govt in Goa, claims BJP numbers may further ‘dwindle’https://indianexpress.com/elections/congress-stakes-claim-to-form-govt-in-goa-manohar-parikkar-live-updates-5629827/

Highlights: Congress stakes claim to form govt in Goa, claims BJP numbers may further ‘dwindle’

In a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Congress leader and leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar staked claim to form the government and demanded dismissal of the BJP-led state government. At present, Congress has the majority in the house at 14, followed by BJP with 13 MLAs.

The Congress on Saturday staked claim to form the government in Goa, claiming that the Manohar Parrikar-led dispensation has lost its majority in the Assembly following the demise of BJP MLA Francis D’Souza. BJP, on the other hand, has called an “urgent meeting” of the party MLAs in its Panaji office. At present, Congress has the majority in the house at 14, followed by BJP with 13 MLAs.

In a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Congress leader and leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar demanded the dismissal of the BJP-led state government. “Incumbent BJP led state government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar, which has long lost the trust of the people, has also lost the strength of the house,” Kavlekar wrote while demanding that the Congress be called to form the government.

On reports that CM Parrikar's health has deteriorated, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai said "he is stable".

"Don't ask me medical terms. I am not making myself open to interpretations. This is not right. You have to respect his privacy. We are with him. CM's office is saying he is stable," Sardesai Said.

According to a PTI report, Parrikar may not be physically present for poll campaignings. "Yes, it will be first time that Parrikar may not be physically present for campaigning but he is monitoring all election matters from home," said BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker of Assembly Michael Lobo.

The BJP meeting has concluded. Cabinet minister and BJP MLA Mauvin Gudinho hinted that the meeting was about elections and that all the MLAs were taken into confidence. "We are facing two elections. All MLAs were taken into confidence as the names have to be sent to central committee of BJP, " he said, reports Express reporter Smita Nair.

BJP MLA Glen Ticlo says “I don't know the agenda of this meeting. We were called urgently and I am here. What is the emergency of this meeting I dnt know. I checked on health of CM and was told he is stable," reports Smita Nair.

Following Congress' action, state BJP called for an immediate meeting. Nilesh Cabral, Rajesh Patnekar, Milind Naik, Pramod Sawant, Alina Saldanha walked in for BJP meeting. Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo is also attending the meeting which is ongoing.

The Goa Congress wrote a letter to the Governor Mridula Sinha asking her to dismiss the BJP-led state government. The Congress stated that the strength of the BJP in the 40- member state legislative assembly could "dwindle further" and warned Sinha from recommending President's rule in the state. Below is the letter.

The Congress said the “the numbers of the BJP may further dwindle” in the Goa Assembly." Kavlekar's letter warned that "any action in violation of the constitutional mandate to invite the single largest party to form the government and any attempt made to bring the state under President's Rule will be undemocratic, and illegal and will be challenged, as deemed fit".

The Congress was the single largest party with 17 MLAs when the election results were declared in February 2017. But the party lost three MLAs to the BJP, which then went on to formed the government.